Which holiday cottage company has been best through CV?

[Mrsemcgregor]

Looking at booking a holiday cottage for next spring/summer and I want to go with a company that hasn’t screwed customers during Covid. I know Hoseasons and Sykes were being difficult, but has anyone got any positive stories?

Might not be exactly in cottage criteria but center parcs have been wonderful. Cancel for full refund or reschedule with 100 off next booking.

So we moved from 5 days in May to 7 in January and got 20 back once difference was worked out.

We had a fine experience with Sykes - refund straight away, no problems

Probably a bit out of my budget for a weeks holiday but good to remember for weekend breaks, thanks!

@Springcatkin oh that’s reassuring, I used them last year and was very happy but had heard a few people complaining with regards to coronavirus refunds, maybe they were being impatient?

Not a cottage company but can't fault Airbnb at all. 100% refund without being asked, paid same day as cancellation email.

Home and Away, used to be Owners Direct. Full refund of our deposit for August and an offer of 10% off any future booking from the owner of our cottage

Sorry, Homeaway.com

We had booked to go away in March with cottages.com

They would only offer a voucher for the first couple of months then suddenly changed their minds and were offering refunds. I think they are associated with hoeseaons if I remember correctly.

Same here for homeaway, Full refund for week away we cancelled in August. I would definitely use them again.

Home away - have been hopeless - I booked back in January for July and so far no sign of deposit back - have heard nothing from them - I chased a month ago and they fobbed me off until July

I'd be interested to know how you got your deposits back from home away??

Personally I will not touch anything except AirBnB going forward. I'm one of those who booked with Sykes and their cancellation terms are really restrictive when you read the fine print (basically you can't, not even if you are willing to lose your deposit, and their insurance is very very limited). After the announcement by the CMA about Vacation Rentals I believe some firms are being better about refunds, but frankly it is too much money for firms to dick consumers about like this.

Noting the bad eggs and never using them again is the best way forward and I hope we all do it.

TripAdviser lettings were exceptional - refunded money problem.
AirBnB, on the other hand, I found quite frustrating initially with their extenuating policy process. The back and forth will actually put me off using them again.

• sorry, Trip Adviser letting refunded our money NO problem

Sykes were fine as soon as I tweeted them!

Don't book with HomeAway. I'd booked and paid for a villa in full for May. Due to Covid-19, all flights were cancelled. HomeAway didn't want to know and said it's the responsibility of the villa manager. Villa Manager refusing to refund me anything. I've had to go through travel insurance and not sure I'll see any of it again.

Lost loads of money with Sykes, really unreasonable, it was a bloody lockdown so it wasn’t like we wanted to cancel. Will stay well away in future.